Brick-kiln



4 Sheets-Sheet l. W. A. KONEMAN.

BRICK KILN.

(No Model.)

4 Sheets-Sheet n 2.

(No Model.)

W. A. KONEMAN. BRICK KILN.

No. 484,595. Patented Oct. 18, 1892.

@@IEII@ (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

' W. A. KONEMAN.

BRICK KILN.

No. 484,595. Patented 001:. 18, 1892.

(No Model.)

4 Sheets- Sheet 4. W. A. KONEMAN.

` BRICK KILN. No. 484,595.

Patented oct. 18, 1892.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. KONEMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BRICK-KILN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 484.595, dated October 18, 1892.

Application iiled May 8, 1891. Serial No. 392,098- (No model) ToaZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. KONEMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Brick-Kilns, of which the following is a specification.

The objects of my invention are to provide a construction of brick-kiln whereby the direction through the kiln of the hot products of combustion employed for the burning may be reversed at will to attain uniformity as to the burning in the product; to economize in fuel by exhausting the products of combustion of practically all their available heat in the burning operation of the kiln; to provide for the drying of green brick in one kiln or portion of the series of kilns preparatory to burning them with the waste heat of the products of combustion employed for burningin another kiln or portion of the series of kilns; to utilize the heat in a burned kiln for heating the air to be used in burning another kiln, and generally to provide an improved construction of brick-kiln.

For carrying 'out my first-named object my improved kiln may be single, but is divided into two intercommunicating com-partments adapted to have the hot products of com-A bustion forced through them alternately and periodically in reverse directions.

The accomplishment of my second object requires at least two controllably intercommunicating kilns to enable the waste hot products of combustion from one to give up their surplus heat to the contents of the other.

My third object presumes for its accomplishment the provision of at least three intercommunicating kilns, including the two already referred to in stating the requirement for my second named object and a third to contain brick in condition to require preparation for the burning by drying them, for which the waste hot products of combustion from the second are utilized, being reduced in temperature by abstraction of their heat in the previous operations or by mixing them withV cold air to a degree adapting them to perform the drying function.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a broken perspective view of my improved construction of multiple brick-kiln. Fig. 2 is a broken plan view of the same representing four of the kilns in the system. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are sectional views taken, respectively, on the lines 3 3, 4 4, and 5 5 of Fig. 2 and viewed in the directions indicated by the arrows. Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 3 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

As represented, myimproved kiln employs fuel-gas as the fuel,though I do not wish to be understood as limiting its use to any particular kind of fuel.

Whatever the number of kilns employed in my system they all involve the same construction, so that description thereof with relation to one will suffice to explain that of each.

Each kiln, (whether that denoted by A, A', A2, or A3,) though it may involve any desired form, is preferably of that illustrated-namely, a rectangular oblong structure having an arched roof or crown q, provided with several Ventilating and air-inlet chimneys r, adapted to be closed by suitable caps (not shown) or by inserting a plug (brick) into each. The kiln is-divided into two compartments by a tire-brick or other incombustible vertical partition B, extending from the base of the structure short of the crown, which is propped from the partition by spaced brick (See Fig. l.) The floor C of the kiln is formed with preferably rectangular piers y) of fire-clay, placed at suitable intervals on the bases of the compartments and disposed in a manner to present their corners to each other and to the course of the fuel, as clearly represented in Fig. 6, thereby to reduce to the minimum their obstruction of the flow of the fuel fluids passed through the kiln, as hereinafter described. The piers p form, as it were, an open-work foundation of the floor, the surface thereof being afforded by rectangular fire-tile p', having elongated vertical openings through them and of which one is imposed on and supported by each of four adjacent piers p, as indicated in Fig. 6. Upon the floor C are piled to or about to the height of the partition B the brick to be burned. (Not shown.) At the opposite outer sides of the base of the kiln and extending throughout its length are flues 0 and o', (see Fig.

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6,) from which branch passages or ports o2 lead at intervals horizontally into the compartments at opposite sides of the partition B below the floor C. The iiues 0 and 0 are surmounted by air-fines o3 and o4, forming branches of a main air-flue F, extending horizontally along the front side of the kiln and provided with branch passages o5, leading into the kiln. As will be clear from the drawings, the members of the series of kilns being side by side, with a space between each pair, that space is occupied by a conduit divided longitudinally into two pairs of the said fines-namely, the flues o o for one kiln and the iues o3 and o4 for the adjacent one. In front at the center of one end of the kiln is a distributing-chamber D, widening laterally toward its base and into a side -of the crown n of which leads the pipe E for conveying gaseous fuel. (Preferably fuel-gas from a producer not shown.) From opposite sides of the base of the chamber D flues m and m lead obliquely into the iiues o and o', respectively. The chamber D is extended at the front side thereof into a short conduit G, divided longitudinally into three dues Z, Z, and Z2, one above the other, by diaphragms Zo and k', the former having a vertical downward extension u at its rear end, terminating near the level of the diaphragln k', and the latter, which reaches backward short of the diaphragm-extension fu, carrying at its extremity a hinged valve k2, adjustable to extend vertically and form an obstruction across the flue Z2, as shown in Fig. 1, and also t o extend upward through and form an obstruction across the iiue Z', thereby opening the Hue Z2.

H is a conduit extending horizontally along the front of the kiln and divided lengthwise by a horizontal diaphragm k3 into lines i and '11', the lower of which leads to the'stack, (not shown,) while the upper one serves a purpose only in connection with a series of kilns, which is likewise the case with all but the iiue Z? of the lues inthe conduit G,the function of the others being hereinafter explained in describing the manner of using the waste heat from one kiln in another, upon which function the reversing of the direction ofthe products of combustion in one andthe samekiln is not dependent, that being capable of accomplishment without such details. It may be here stated, however, that the ues Z and Z2 lead, respectively, into the flues t' and i', and that the flue Z is on a higher plane than the conduit H, but leads into the iiue Z of the latter, its communication y therewith, however, being controllable through the medium of a vertically-sliding valve w. n

` In-the chamber D is journaled adeflectingvalve D.

As shown in Fig. l, the fuel-supply pipe E opens into thecrown 'n of the chamber D and passes thence through the flues m and o or through the lines m and o into the Akiln by way of the side openings o2, whichever of the said pairs of fiues it enters for access to the kiln, depending on the position of setting the valve D. If it be set as represented, the fuelgas will pass into the kiln at its base by way of the iues m and o', and on entering the kiln (the vertically-adjustable slide-valves?? of the ports o2 and t of the air-inlet ports 05 at the sides of the kiln being previously raised for the free passage) it encounters the airsupply from the main air-due F and branch ue 04 and is ignited. For kindling the fuel I provide any suitable means, such as an oilpipe s, leading from a hydrocarbon oil-supply (not shown) by its branches to dierent points of ignition, where the fire for the purpose may be introduced through oblique openings s (provided in both sides of the kiln) at the side where the fuel-gas and air enterthe kiln. The burning fuel thus enters between the piers of the door C of one compartment of the kiln,p`asses upward through the door and pile of brick therein over the partition B, and down through the pile of brick in the adjacent chamber through the floor C, ports o2, and lines 0, m, and Z2 (the latter being then unobstructed by the valve k2) into the ue fZ,and thence, if, as presupposed, the burning be performed in a single kiln, directly to the stack. As the intensity of the heat of the products of combustion obviously lessens in their course toward the outlet side of the kiln, unless otherwise provided against there would be lack of uniformity in the burned product, the brick nearer the fuel-inlet being better burned than thosetoward the outlet. This tlack in uniformity I prevent by periodically (say every hour or so) turning the Valve D to its opposite positions, thereby alternately directing the products of 'combustioninto opposite sides of the base of the kiln, and thus reversing their course through the latter. This reversal may be produced by means other than the valve D. Hence I do not limitmy improvement thereto.

As hereinbefore mentioned, to secure all the advantages of myimproved kiln construction a series of controllably-intercommunicating kilns is provided, as represented in the drawings, and though two may be used at one time with advantage in the way of economiz` ing in fuel byusin g all or practically all of the heat-units thereof, at least three in operation at one time afford the greater advantage in the respect stated. Thus while one kiln is burning the waste heat therefrom may be used in burning another, and from the latter the still hot products of combustion, though so reduced in temperature as to be inadequate for burning, may be passed through a kiln of green brick to dry them preparatory to burning. If, as is intended and represented in Fig. 2, a fourth kiln be included iu the series, the one in 4which the burning is finished may be utilized to heat the air used in burning another, and the arrangement illustrated is Adesigned for that purpose.

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As already stated, all the kilns involve the construction of that hereinbefore described indetail, though it should be stated that the to which it belongs.

conduit H crosses and communicates with the conduits G of the chambers D of all. Furthermore, various controlling-valves require description. In the fuel-supply pipe E, in which the course of the fuel is indicated by an arrow in Fig. 1, are dampers u, one being provided at the farther side of each flue G and controlled from the front side of the crown n by a handle u' on its projecting axis to close the passage into the conduit G, in order to allow the fuel-supply to pass by it or open such passage by closing that in the pipe E to permit. the fuel-gas to enter the desired said conduit G, and thence the particular kiln Each kiln has erected on its front portion a suitable frame I, (see Fig. 1,) on which to suspend the cables sustaining various valves. Thus the slide-valve w in each passage Z of an extension G is suspended on a cable w', carrying a counterbalancing-weight to2. In the flue t' of the conduit H at the farther side of the upper flue portion of each conduit G is a slide-valve h, Suspended from the frame I by a cable h', carrying a counterbalancing-weight h2. A

cable g2, passes from an accessible position over guide-pulleys on the frame to and is connected with the weighted end of a crankarm g' on the axis g of the valve D', said axis also extending transversely through the airflue F, and carrying a damper therein open, with the valve D in the position illustrated, said axis also carrying a cross-head f3, connectedfrom opposite ends by cables f2 and f', passing over guide-pulleys on the frame, with slide-valves f at the outer ends of the branch air-dues 03 and o4 at opposite sides of the kiln, and the valve k2 in the conduit G is controllable for setting it by a crank-arm e on the protruding end of its axis.

The air-flue F need not extend lengthwise beyond the ends of the front side of the series of kilns, and the same is true of the upper fiue t in the conduit H, While the lower flue i extends to the stack and has a branch pasy sage 2, extending along the side of the end kiln nearest the stack and back of the entire series of kilns, as shown in Fig. 2, thus crossing at the back of the kilns the branch flues o and o', communication with which is controlled through the medium of the vertical slide-valves cZ. In the branch flue 2, near its junction with the main stack-flue t', is a fan K, and at said junction in the tine 'i' is a vertical slide-valve t2.

To enable the operation to be understood, it may be presumed that the burning of the contents of the first kiln A has been nished, that the contents of the kiln A', having been partly burned by the Waste heat of the products of combustion utilized in the first kiln, are now being burned by an original supply to it of fuel, that the contents of the third 'ter the flue Z.

kiln A2 are being partly or preparatorily burned by the waste heat of the original products of combustion utilized in the second kiln, that said products of combustion are passed thence, greatly reduced as to temperature, upward through the fourth kiln A3 to dry green brick therein, and thus prepare them for burning, and that the air-supply is furnished in a heated condition to the main air-flue F by opening the chimneys in the crown of the first kiln A, and by the draft drawing air by way of said'chimneys through the hot kiln Ainto the flue F. To accomplish this result, the valve D' in the chamber D of the kiln A may be supposed to be set in the position of that of the kiln A2 in Fig.v l. Then the valves u in the gas-pipe E at the kilns A2 and A2 will be down, there to close the supply to the respective chambers D, while that valve of the kiln A' will be raised to admit the gas to its chamber D and obstruct its passage beyond the same. The gas will then pass through the ues m' and o' of the kiln A' yinto that kiln (Where it is ignited, as hereinbefore described) through the open ports o2, the products of combustion thence rising in the one compartment therein, passing over its partition B down the other compartment out of the ports o2 on that side into the branch tlues o and m and thence entering the iiue t'. The valve h of the flue at the next kiln A2 is then supposed to be down (not raised, as shown in Fig. l) and the valve w thereof raised, the former to stop the products of combustion from passing the iue Z of the kiln A2 and the latter to admit them therein, the valve k2 in the respective conduit G being then raised to obstruct the iiue Z, so that the products of combustion can only en- From t-he latter the waste produc'tsof combustion enter and pass through the kiln A2 in the same manner as they were passed through the kiln A', and they exhaust by way of the respective ues o, m, and Z2into the flue fi. Thence, if there is no green-brick kiln to be dried, "the succeeding valves h being raised, they may pass to the stack. If, however, they are to be used for drying green brick in the kiln A3, the final valve h is lowered, the valve t3 raised, and the fan K operated to draw and force the spent products of combustion into the iiue Z2, the valves CZ in the fines 0 and o' of the kiln A3 being then raised to permit the waste products of combustion to enter the said kiln by way of them and the ports o2, and pass upward through the kiln and out of its crown at the ventingchimneys r thereof.

At the start of the operation just described the chimneys r in the first or burned kiln A are open to enable air to be drawn through that kiln and out of it by Way of the ports o5 and branch air-flues o3 and 04 in a heated condition into the main air-flue F, through which it passes in the same direction as the gas into the kiln A through the flue o3 or o4, as the IOO IIO

case may be, (depending on the direction of entrance of the gas,) and the ports o5, the

proper valve f being raised to admit it.

When the kiln A has been burned, the order of burning is advanced one kiln, the first then being emptied of its cold and finished brick and filled with green ones to be dried,

and so on, vsuccessively completing the burning in each kiln throughout the series. The proper setting of the valves in each case will from the foregoing description be manifest to those skilled lin the art.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination, a brick-kiln containing a partition B, dividing vit into compartments intercommunicating over the partition, tlues o and o at opposite sides of the base of the kiln and `communicating through ports o2 with the compartments, a distributingchamber D at the end of the kiln, dues m andm, leading from opposite sides ofthe said chambers into the fiues o and o', an exhaust-ue leading from the chamber D and common to all the other dues, a fuel-supply conduit E, leading Ainto the said chamber,

. and a valve D in the chamber between the fines m and m and adjustable to close either at will to the fuel-supply, and thereby open the otherA to the exhaust-flue, whereby the course of the products 'of combustion through the kiln may be reversed, substantially as described.

2. In a brick-kiln, the Hoor comprising piers p, disposed with their corners diagonally opposing each other, with perforate dre-brick imposed thereon, substantially as described.

3. In combination, a brick-kiln containing a partition B, dividing it into intercommunicating compartments, each having `its floor yformed with piers @disposed with their corners diagonally opposing each other and perforate fire-brick imposed thereon, dues o and' o at opposite sides of the base ofthe kiln and communicating through `ports o2 with the'compartments, a distributing-cham ber D between and communicating with said nues, a `fuel-supply conduit E, leading into said chamber, and a valve D' in the chamber between the dues and adjustable to close either to the fuel-supply, and thereby open the other thereto, whereby the course of the products of combustion through the kiln may be reversed at will, substantially as described.

4. In combination, a series of brick-kilns having air-inlet openings 'and provided with dues intercommunicating with them and with the fuel-supply, and a main air-due forthe kilns, communicating with the latter through branch dues, whereby the air to be used ina kiln to beburned may be introduced therein in a heated condition through a previouslyburned kiln into the main air-Hue, substantially as described.

5. In combination, a series of brick-kilns provided with vent-openings and each conL taining a partition dividing it into intercommunicating compartments, fuel-dues communicating with the said compartments at opposite sides of the kiln and surmounted by similarly-communicating branch air-dues, a main air-flue for `vthe kilns, into which the brauch `air-dues lead, a fuel-supply conduit communicating with the said fuel-dues, and a valve between the fuel-supply conduit and fuel-dues of each kiln and adjustable to reverse at will the fuel-supply to the kiln,sub stantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In combination, a series of brick-kilns, each containing a partition B, dividing it into intercommunicating compartments, ues o and o at opposite sides of each kiln and communicating with the compartments therein, a distributing-chamber D at one end of each kiln, fines "1l and t', extending across the chambers D, the tine i', leading to the stack, nues land Z', leading from eachdistributing-chamber into the flue 1l, and a [lue Z2, leading therefrom into the flue i',a fuelssupply conduit E, controllably communicating with the chambers D, a valve D i n each said chamber, adjustable to direct the fuel-supplyinto either side of the kiln at will, andvalves for the several flues,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.'

7. In combination, a series of brick-kilns provided 'with vent-openings and each containing a partit-ionB, dividing it into intercommunicatingcompartments, iiues o and o at opposite sides of each kiln and communieating with the compartments thereima distributing-chamber D at one end of 'each kiln, fines t' and '11', extending across thechambers D, the `flue t',1eading`to the stack, tlues l and Z', leading from `each distributing-'chamber into the flue 1I, and a due l2, leading therefrom into the flue i', a branch flue i2, leadingfrom the luez across and `controllably communicating with theflues o and o at the ends of thekilns opposite those having the distributing-chambers, a fan K between the fines 1l and t?, a fuel-supply conduit E, controllably communicating with the chambers D,avalve Din each said chamber, adjustable to direct the fuel-supply into either side'of the kiln at will, and valves for the several dues, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In combination, a series of brick-kilns provided with vent-openings in their roofs and each containing a partition B, dividing it into intercommunicating compartments, iues o and o at opposite sides of the base of each kiln and leading into the said compartments through ports o2, a main air-flue F for the several kilns, having branch lues o3 and o, surmounting the dues o and o' and leading into said compartments through ports o5, a distributing-chamber D in front of each kiln, having lateral dues m and m', leading obliquely into the flues o and o', a fuel-supply conduit E, controllably communicating with the chambers D, a valve D' 1n each said cham- IIO ber, adjustable to direct the fuel into either flue m or m at will, an exhaust-flue i', common to all the kilns surmounted by a ue 0L', and having la branch ue i2, communicating with the lues o and o at the rear of the series of kilns, a fan K between the flue t" and branch flue i2, lues Z and Z,1eadingfrom each chamber D into the flue z', and a flue Z2, leading therefrom into the ue '12', and Valves for K controlling the several flue-passages at will, 1o the Whole being constructed and arranged to operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

WILLIAM A. KONEMAN.

. 'In presence of- J. W. DRYENFORTH, M. J. FROST. 

